I founded soles4change in 2008 to collect running shoes from the cross country, track and other sports teams to redistribute to local charities in the LA area. When the Earthquake in Haiti hit, I collected and sent Haiti 200 pairs of shoes within 4 weeks. In total, I redistributed more than 1,000 pairs of shoes to US and offshore non-profit organizations while in high school.

To learn more about Andrew Medina, founder of Soles 4 Change, click here....

How to get involved: My major goal for the school year 2011-2012 is to get other schools involved in our programs. Click here if you would like to be the President of Soles 4 Change at your school, and we’ll show you how easy it is to make a difference in the world!

Andy Medina collecting shoes to send to the Haiti earthquake victims as part of his "Heeling Haiti" project.

Major Drives to Date:

This is the one that started them all. When I was a young lad I had an idea that I could change the world with shoes. I didn’t want to do something that someone else had done, so, I decided to start Soles 4 Change. It would be my small way of giving back for all the things that have been given to me. It also served as a handy way for keeping that growing pile of shoes under my bed from becoming radioactive with the smell. So with a box in one hand and a gas mask in the other, I struck out into the world to make a change. Click here for more....

On January 12, 2010 Haiti collapsed under an Earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale. Estimates are that more than 150,000 people died. As I watched the survivors, I was struck by a new idea. Soles 4 Change changed its hat to be "Heeling Haiti." It was our first major powerhouse and really got things moving as far as collection. Within two weeks, we had 100 pairs of shoes to be sent Haiti to aid in relief efforts, with more coming in every day. I was thrilled at the generosity of everyone around me who contributed in making the Haitians lives a little easier. I want to extend my gratitude to everyone who donated and assure you that your donation will not go to waste. Click here for photos....

Clothes 4 Change is a natural extension of Soles 4 Change. It extends the charity’s reach past shoes into collecting and redistributing apparel to those who need it. I got the idea to send clothes to Chile after its earthquake. Since then, this idea has branched out and became an entirely different charity. It now serves the same function as Soles 4 Change, but through a different medium, clothes. Donations go to the Brothers of Charity in Downtown Los Angeles, Holy Family Parish in South Pasadena, and Union Station in Pasadena. I am happy to have expanded the influence of Soles 4 Change to a broader spectrum of aid to those people who need it.